Portuguese PM in tax controversy

Red-faced Portuguese prime minister Pedro Passos Coelho has admitted he is “not perfect” after it was revealed he failed to pay his social security contributions during five years, before he came to office.

Mr Passos Coelho’s centre-right coalition government launched a crackdown on tax evasion as part of an austerity programme when it took power in 2011, following a 78 billion euro (£56 billion) bailout that spared Portugal from bankruptcy.

A newspaper revealed last weekend that he failed to pay almost 4,000 euro (£2,900) in social security from 1999-2004.

The prime minister said he was not aware of the missing payments and paid the outstanding sum after the press report appeared.